Two Types of Ticks and the Importance of Prevention, Protection, and Control

Ticks are small arachnids that are more than just pests, these external parasites also carry diseases. Because they can cause harm, it’s important to protect yourselves from them. Listed below are the 2 types of ticks you are most likely to encounter here in the New Hampshire Lakes Region. Knowing what to look out for can help you to identify potential disease-carrying pests within your yard.

Blacklegged Ticks (Deer Ticks)

With a life cycle that generally lasts about two years, the blacklegged tick goes through four stages of life including:

Egg

Six-legged larva

Eight-legged nymph

Adult

Adult blacklegged ticks are about the same size as a sesame seed. Because they are so tiny, they can go undetected after latching onto your body or your pet. This type of tick causes Lyme disease and also anaplasmosis and babesiosis. These diseases are carried when ticks are in their nymph or adult stages of life.

Dog Ticks

Like the blacklegged tick, dog ticks have the same four stages to their cycle of life. Normally ticks need a different host for each stage of life, but the brown dog tick can survive on the same host throughout its life cycle. As its name implies, the most common host is the dog. Also unique to this type of tick is that it can complete its entire life cycle while indoors. Some of the diseases it carries includes:

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (transmitted during all stages of life)

Canine ehrlichiosis

Canine babesiosis

The highest risk of infection with both types of ticks is during the late spring and summer.

Prevention and Control

Mosquito Squad of New Hampshire Lakes Region offers these safe and effective ways to prevent and control deer ticks and blacklegged ticks:

Tick tubes – These biodegradable tubes with treated cotton inside are placed on property to entice mice, which is how most ticks get their first blood meal. When mice use the cotton for nesting material, ticks are then exposed to the treated cotton and they are eliminated on contact.

Barrier spray treatment - A solution professionally applied around the home and the backyard once every 3 weeks.